Box attachment

ABSTRACT

The disclosure concerns a box attachment for attaching with a pizza box or similar foldable box, and a related system, wherein the box attachment is configured for holding ancillary items such as packets and containers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority with U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 62/728,194, filed Sep. 7, 2018; the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This invention relates to food-containing boxes; and more particularly, to a box attachment for storing condiments and other ancillary items, the box attachment being configured to attach to a food-containing box while keeping ancillary items segregated from the food.

Description of the Related Art

Single and multi-compartment food-containing boxes, i.e. “take-out containers”, are known and widely used in the art. More particularly, pizza boxes are widely known and used.

Ancillary items, such as cheese packets, pepper packets, sauces, and other condiments often accompany pizza, but cannot be place inside the pizza box without possibly mixing with the pizza product. If mixed with the pizza, the ancillary items can become saturated with pizza material, messy, and may become generally displeasing.

Others have described pizza boxes with integrated and segregated compartments for keeping condiments, but such boxes are expensive to manufacture and unnecessary under circumstances where ancillary items are not required, for example, where a customer ordering pizza is not interested in cheese, peppers, or other condiments. In these circumstances, the pizza vendor experiences waste when delivering a multi-compartment box, which is relatively costly, and where the customer does not need such a costly box.

There is a heartfelt and longstanding need to address these and other problems in the art.

SUMMARY

The disclosure concerns a box attachment for selectively engaging a food-containing box, such as, for example, a pizza box, or similar box, wherein the box attachment comprises a receptacle portion and a flap extending from a periphery of the receptacle portion, wherein the flap is configured for insertion into the pizza box, or similar box, for attaching the box attachment therewith. A bending line is formed along a meeting of the flap and the periphery, wherein the bending line is pre-folded, bent, scored or otherwise configured to promote bending at the bending line. The box attachment can be printed on one or more surfaces to display marketing material to an end user; alternatively, a sticker may be applied. Other features and benefits are described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become apparent to one having the ordinary level of skill in the art upon a thorough review of the following details and descriptions, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a box attachment configured in attachment with a food-containing box.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the box attachment holding a plurality of ancillary items within a receptacle portion thereof, and a flap portion extending from a periphery of the box attachment.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the box attachment with empty receptacle portion.

FIG. 4 shows another perspective view of the box attachment engaged with a food-containing box.

FIG. 5 shows yet another view of the box attachment with ancillary items held therein.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a monolithic sheet having various elements for folding and assembling the box attachment.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of a monolithic sheet having various elements for folding and assembling the box attachment in accordance with another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of explanation and not limitation, details and descriptions of certain preferred embodiments are hereinafter provided such that one having ordinary skill in the art may be enabled to make and use the invention. These details and descriptions are representative only of certain preferred embodiments, however, and a myriad of other embodiments which will not be expressly described will be readily understood by one having skill in the art upon a thorough review of the instant disclosure. Accordingly, any reviewer of the instant disclosure should interpret the scope of the invention only by the claims, as such scope is not intended to be limited by the embodiments described and illustrated herein.

Specifically, the invention is illustrated within the context of a pizza box; however, one with skill in the art will appreciate that similar embodiments can be implemented with other boxes, food-containing and otherwise, which exhibit by nature similar qualities and characteristics, or which obtain substantially the same results by similar means. As such, these other variants are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

General Embodiment

In a general embodiment, a box attachment includes a receptacle portion and a flap portion extending outwardly from a periphery of the receptacle portion. The receptacle portion is generally a cavity configured to hold cheese packets, pepper packets, condiments, or other ancillary items. The flap portion is generally a planar extension of one wall of the receptacle portion, and is distinguished from the receptacle portion at a bending line, which may comprise a fold or scored line extending along a periphery of the receptacle portion such that the flap is configured to easily fold about the bending line for engaging in removeable attachment with the food-containing box.

The box attachment may be manufactured from cardboard, such as corrugated cardboard, or any other material(s) deemed suitable by one having skill in the art. It is optional, but preferred, that the box attachment be manufactured from a same or similar material as the food-containing box for which it relates.

The box attachment may be designed with folds in order to be collapsed during shipping and storage, but also to be readily enabled for folding, such that the box attachment may be constructed in a relatively fast and efficient manner. In addition, a folded box attachment can enable printing on flat surfaces or portions of the box attachment, such that marketing material may be implemented and used in a marketing campaign directed toward an end user.

Illustrated Embodiment

Now, turning to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a box attachment 100 is shown attached to a pizza box 200, wherein a flap portion 110 of the box attachment is inserted between a wall 201 and lid 202 of the pizza box when closed, such that the box attachment may travel with the pizza box in unified order.

Optionally, at least an outward-facing surface 140 may be printed with graphics or marketing material in order to promote a marketing campaign to an end user.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the box attachment 100 holding a plurality of ancillary items 130 within a receptacle portion 120 thereof, and a flap portion 110 extending from a periphery 116 of the box attachment. The flap portion and receptacle portion meet at a bending line 115, which can be pre-folded or scored to facilitate bending therebetween, thereby forming a hinge such that the flap portion is coupled to the receptacle portion at a hinge extending along the bending line. The ancillary items may comprise cheese packets, pepper packets, condiments, such as ranch dipping sauce and other condiments. Outward-facing surface 140 may comprise printed graphics or a sticker, wherein the printed graphics or sticker can be used to display a marketing campaign or other information to end users.

With the flap portion inserted into a slot of the food-containing box, the box attachment becomes attached therewith, and the combination forms a box assembly. In this regard, a box assembly may comprise a food-containing box, and a box attachment, the box attachment including a receptacle portion and a flap portion, the flap portion being configured to engage a slot portion of the food-containing box, wherein the slot portion of the food containing box may comprise a gap between a wall and a lid portion of the food-containing box.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the box attachment 100 with empty receptacle portion 120. Here, further shown are componentry of the box attachment, such as the flap portion 110, bending line 115, and periphery 116. A depth of the receptacle portion can be configured based on the application; however, for the application of a pizza box attachment, the depth of the receptacle portion may comprise between one and three inches or may be designed such that the box attachment matches a size of the corresponding pizza box.

FIG. 4 shows another perspective view of the box attachment 100 engaged with a food-containing box 200. Here, various components of the assembly are appreciated from an alternative perspective.

FIG. 5 shows yet another view of the box attachment 100 with ancillary items 130 held therein. The flap portion 110 and receptacle portion 120 are further illustrated as meeting at bending line 115.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a monolithic sheet having various elements for folding and assembling the box attachment 100. Here, each of the receptacle portion and the flap portion are folded from a monolithic planar sheet. As shown, the receptacle portion further comprises: a first side-wall panel 121, a second side-wall panel 123, a bottom panel 122 disposed between the first and second side-wall panels, a first pair of side-wall tabs 124 a; 124 d extending outwardly from the first side-wall panel 121, and a second pair of side-wall tabs 124 b; 124 c extending outwardly from the second side-wall panel 123. Each of the first side-wall panel, the second side-wall panel, the bottom panel, the first pair of side-wall tabs, and the second pair of side-wall tabs is coupled to another of the first side-wall panel, the second side-wall panel, the bottom panel, the first pair of side-wall tabs, and the second pair of side-wall tabs at a bending line 115 extending therebetween. The bottom panel comprises a bottom panel width (B′), wherein each side-wall tab 124(a-d) of the first and second pairs of side-wall tabs comprises a tab width (T′), and wherein the tab width is less than or equal to the bottom panel width. Additionally, the flap portion comprises a flap width (F′), wherein the side-wall panels 121; 123 comprise a side width (S′), and wherein the flap width is between ninety percent and one-hundred percent of the side width.

In another embodiment, the box attachment may be preferred to be attached to the foldable box such that the box attachment is configured on the lid portion thereof. In this embodiment, the flap portion must be sufficiently long to engage the gap between the lid portion and wall portion of the foldable box. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the box may comprise a flap portion comprising a flap width (F′), wherein the side-wall panels 121; 123 comprise a side width (S′), and wherein the flap width is between on-hundred eighty and two-hundred twenty percent of the side width. In this regard, the flap portion will be sufficiently long to hold the box attachment with the foldable box in the orientation with the box attachment above the lid portion of the foldable box.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the box attachment may comprise a flap portion coupled to a receptacle portion at a pair of bending lines, said pair of bending lines including a first bending line 115 and a second bending line 117.

The box attachment can be similarly configured with a desired receptacle width and height sufficient to contain the desired packets and/or other ancillary items. Thus, the dimensions of the receptacle portion of the box attachment are not limited to the illustrated embodiments.

Therefore, disclosed is a box attachment, which comprises a receptacle portion, and a flap portion extending from a rim of the receptacle portion along one side thereof; wherein the flap portion is configured for insertion within a gap formed between a lid and a wall of a foldable box.

The receptacle portion may comprise a rectangular rim having four sides thereof.

The receptacle portion and the flap portion each may comprise cardboard.

The flap portion may be coupled to the receptacle portion at a hinge.

In another embodiment, a system is disclosed which comprises: a foldable box comprising a gap formed between a lid and a wall of the foldable box, and a box attachment; the box attachment comprising: a receptacle portion, and a flap portion extending from a rim of the receptacle portion along one side thereof; wherein the flap portion is configured for insertion within the gap formed between the lid and the wall of the foldable box.

While various details, features, and combinations are described in the illustrated embodiments, one having skill in the art will appreciate a myriad of possible alternative combinations and arrangements of the features disclosed herein. As such, the descriptions are intended to be enabling only, and non-limiting. Instead, the spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS

-   Box attachment (100) -   Flap portion (110) -   Bending line (115) -   Periphery (116) -   Second bending line (117) -   Receptacle portion (120) -   First side-wall panel (121) -   Bottom panel (122) -   Second side-wall panel (123) -   Side-wall tabs (124 a; 124 b; 124 c; 124 d) -   Ancillary items (130) -   Outward-facing surface (140) -   Pizza box (200) -   Wall (201) -   Lid (202) -   Bottom panel width (B′) -   Tab width (T′) -   Flap width (F′) -   Side width (S′) 

I claim:
 1. A box attachment, comprising: a receptacle portion, and a flap portion extending from a rim of the receptacle portion along one side thereof; wherein the flap portion is configured for insertion within a gap formed between a lid and a wall of a foldable box.
 2. The box attachment of claim 1, wherein the receptacle portion comprises a rectangular rim having four sides thereof.
 3. The box attachment of claim 1, wherein the receptacle portion and the flap portion each comprises cardboard.
 4. The box attachment of claim 1, further characterized in that the flap portion is coupled to the receptacle portion at a hinge.
 5. The box attachment of claim 1, wherein each of the receptacle portion and the flap portion are folded from a monolithic planar sheet.
 6. The box attachment of claim 5, wherein the receptacle portion further comprises: a first side-wall panel, a second side-wall panel, a bottom panel disposed between the first and second side-wall panels, a first pair of side-wall tabs extending outwardly from the first side-wall panel, and a second pair of side-wall tabs extending outwardly from the second side-wall panel.
 7. The box attachment of claim 6, wherein each of the first side-wall panel, the second side-wall panel, the bottom panel, the first pair of side-wall tabs, and the second pair of side-wall tabs is coupled to another of the first side-wall panel, the second side-wall panel, the bottom panel, the first pair of side-wall tabs, and the second pair of side-wall tabs at a bending line extending therebetween.
 8. The box attachment of claim 6, wherein the bottom panel comprises a bottom panel width, wherein each side-wall tab of the first and second pairs of side-wall tabs comprises a tab width, and wherein the tab width is less than or equal to the bottom panel width.
 9. The box attachment of claim 6, wherein the flap portion comprises a flap width, wherein the side-wall panels comprise a side width, and wherein the flap width is between ninety percent and one-hundred percent of the side width.
 10. The box attachment of claim 6, wherein the flap portion comprises a flap width, wherein the side-wall panels comprise a side width, and wherein the flap width is between one-hundred eighty percent and two-hundred twenty percent of the side width.
 11. A system, comprising: a foldable box comprising a gap formed between a lid and a wall of the foldable box, and a box attachment; the box attachment comprising: a receptacle portion, and a flap portion extending from a rim of the receptacle portion along one side thereof; wherein the flap portion is configured for insertion within the gap formed between the lid and the wall of the foldable box.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receptacle portion comprises a rectangular rim having four sides thereof.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the receptacle portion and the flap portion each comprises cardboard.
 14. The system of claim 11, further characterized in that the flap portion is coupled to the receptacle portion at a hinge.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the receptacle portion and the flap portion are folded from a monolithic planar sheet.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the receptacle portion further comprises: a first side-wall panel, a second side-wall panel, a bottom panel disposed between the first and second side-wall panels, a first pair of side-wall tabs extending outwardly from the first side-wall panel, and a second pair of side-wall tabs extending outwardly from the second side-wall panel.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the first side-wall panel, the second side-wall panel, the bottom panel, the first pair of side-wall tabs, and the second pair of side-wall tabs is coupled to another of the first side-wall panel, the second side-wall panel, the bottom panel, the first pair of side-wall tabs, and the second pair of side-wall tabs at a bending line extending therebetween.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the bottom panel comprises a bottom panel width, wherein each side-wall tab of the first and second pairs of side-wall tabs comprises a tab width, and wherein the tab width is less than or equal to the bottom panel width.
 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the flap portion comprises a flap width, wherein the side-wall panels comprise a side width, and wherein the flap width is between ninety percent and one-hundred percent of the side width. 